by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Educational Evaluation & Research involves the study of Educational Evaluation And Research. A Program That Focuses On The Principles And Procedures For Generating Information About Educational Programs, Personnel And Methods, And The Analysis Of Such Information For Planning Purposes. Includes Instruction In Evaluation Theory, Evaluation Research Design And Planning, Administering Evaluations And Related Data Collection Activities, Data Reporting Requirements, Data Analysis And Interpretation, And Related Economic And Policy Issues. Read on to learn the key facts every educational evaluation & research major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering educational evaluation & research programs.
Across the country, educational evaluation & research draws strong interest, with 789 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Educational Evaluation & Research Schools ranking analyzes these 50 schools to determine the best overall colleges for educational evaluation & research students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of educational evaluation & research programs later in this article.
Studies in Educational Evaluation & Research build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations educational evaluation & research graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a educational evaluation & research program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a educational evaluation & research major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several educational evaluation & research degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 568 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 221 |
People currently working in careers related to educational evaluation & research tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 67.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.8% |
| Master’s degree | 13.5% |
| Some college courses | 2.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in educational evaluation & research careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in educational evaluation & research opens doors to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to educational evaluation & research.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to educational evaluation & research.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Management Analysts | 484,759 | 12.6% |
| Transportation Planners | 43,539 | 4.1% |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | 24,588 | 6.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of educational evaluation & research graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $62,037 |
| 4 years | $57,700 |
| 5 years | $64,541 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for educational evaluation & research graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers educational evaluation & research grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Management Analysts | $51,034 |
| Transportation Planners | $50,855 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $42,168 |
With 50 different educational evaluation & research programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased educational evaluation & research school rankings to help you.
Those considering educational evaluation & research, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Learning Sciences | 4,044 |
| Educational Statistics and Research Methods | 351 |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research, Other | 298 |
| Educational Assessment, Testing, and Measurement | 206 |
| Institutional Research | 7 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
